Busy Philipps gave Us behind the scenes details of the recent Dawson’s Creek reunion — including how the cast pivoted when James Van Der Beek announced he wouldn’t be able to attend.
“I think we were all really hoping that James was going to be able to make it even kind of up until the last second,” Philipps, 46, exclusively told Us Weekly while promoting her partnership with Supernus Pharmaceuticals. “We just had a contingency plan in place.”
Philipps added, “Thankfully, Lin-Manuel Miranda knows the Richard Rogers Theatre very well.”
The New York City venue is the same theatre where Hamilton is performed. Philipps added that it was an “easy call” to ask the Broadway star and creator of the hit musical, 45, to step in since he is close friends with Michelle Williams’ husband, Thomas Kail. The actress added that Miranda’s addition to the Dawson Creek family was a big win for Van Der Beek, 48, and his family.
“James was also very thrilled that Lin was able to step in. His kids and family were able to see Hamilton the day before,” she explained. “We just had to figure out how it was going to … be the best version of a thing.”
Last month, Philipps, Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and more of the Dawson’s Creek cast gathered at the Richards Rogers Theatre for the highly anticipated reunion. The group reprised their roles from the beloved teen drama for a special reading of the pilot script. Miranda stepped in for Van Der Beek to portray lead character Dawson Leery. The event was raising funds for the charity F Cancer.
Van Der Beek was initially scheduled to attend but had to cancel because he was sick. (The actor is also currently battling stage III colon cancer.) Although he was unable to attend himself, Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, still made an appearance. (The pair, who tied the knot in 2010, share daughters Olivia, 14, Annabel, 11, Emilia, 9, and Gwendolyn, 6, and sons Joshua, 13, and Jeremiah, 2.)
In addition to acting out the show’s first episode, the cast performed a sing-a-long to the Dawson Creek theme song, Paula Cole’s “I Don’t Want to Wait.” James and Kimberly’s little ones also joined in to sing the tune. While speaking to Us, Philipps revealed that the surprise moment was arranged by Jason Moore, an “incredible theater director” who worked with the Dawson’s Creek cast on an episode back in the ‘90s.
“We’d all worked with him before … We had been trying to figure out what the best way to do the song was,” Philipps told Us, adding that because James’ children are “really amazing singers,” it would be fun for them to be involved as well.
“There was a lot of texting back and forth the week before between me, Tommy and Jason Moore about … what do we do with the song, and how do we make it special? I think it was Jason’s idea … and possibly Tommy too,” she shared.
Philipps added that they thought it was a “great moment” to include.
“Everybody just came together, and everyone had great ideas and input, and [it was] all hands on deck,” she explained. “We just really wanted it to be special and something that, even though James wasn’t able to be there, he would feel the love from the Richard Rogers theater on Broadway all the way to Texas.”
Philipps was actually one of the only actors who didn’t reprise her original role for the reunion, as her character, Audrey, doesn’t appear until the show’s fifth season. Instead, she took on the part of Tamara Jacobs (played by Leann Hunley in the series), the problematic teacher who takes 15-year-old Pacey Witter’s (Joshua Jackson) virginity..
In a scene from the pilot, Jackson’s character kisses Tamara, which Philipps and Jackson recreated on stage to an eruption of claps and screams. Philipps admitted the pair — who played love interests later in the show — “didn’t have any conversations” about the smooch beforehand.
“It’s a reading on stage. We just have to do it!” she said with a laugh, adding that the moment got exactly the reaction she expected. “I think anytime you kiss Josh Jackson, people are going to scream.”
While the Dawson’s Creek reunion was initially put together to raise money for F Cancer amid James’ cancer battle, Philipps is also focusing her philanthropic efforts toward ADHD awareness. The actress realized she had the condition later in life after her daughter Birdie was diagnosed first. Philipps has since teamed up with Supernus Pharmaceuticals to talk about her experience.
“When I started to try to figure out what was the right path for me in terms of treatment. And I tried Qelbree, which is non-stimulant. It really worked for me, so it felt like a very natural fit,” she said of the partnership. “I’m able to talk about a thing that I really believe [in]. More people should be educated about, especially women and girls, ADHD, and getting a diagnosis that makes sense for them.”
Philipps shared that both her and her daughter being diagnosed with ADHD together has helped them navigate the condition. (Philipps shares Birdie and daughter Cricket with ex-husband Marc Silverstein.)
“I think it’s been a lot of figuring out ways to help her [and] me manage it, and then also having the understanding that her brain does work differently, and this is just part of it,” she told Us. “There’s nothing wrong with her. It’s just different. And I think it takes a lot of the shame and stigma away.”
